Here's the craigslist posting with all the info and pictures, because even though I know some of it, I certainly don't feel like typing it all again.... and all the pictures are on Joel's computer.. :)

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Last weekend was my cousin Shanna's wedding in Milwaukee. It was a beautiful place and a beautiful day. They had me fill in as photographer while she was getting dressed... so of course that gave me artistic license to bring my camera along for the rest of the day. :) Check out some of the pics on the other blog. We ended up staying an extra night for the "friends/family" picnic on Sunday, which worked out really well. The only room they had left was the whirlpool suite.. That was amazing. :)

Joel actually came home this Wednesday and I went back to the job with him on Thursday morning. I didn't want him to have to finish up alone.. :) Thursday night we stayed in this wonderful hotel, where the mattress springs were of the utmost quality. We know, we could feel them. We also sing the praises of the sound-enhancing walls... that t-storm was nearly in our room with us.

Whatever. :) Obviously I got my laundry machines (wooo...). Today, after a stop at Home Depot, Joel built me this awesome laundry "area" in the basement. It consists of some clotheslines and 2 8-ft rods to hang my clothes on. Yes. I'm anal. I hardly dry anything all the way. It's just beautiful. My last load of the day is just finishing up in the dryer. *sniff* *tear* I love my husband. :)

I'm supposed to hear back on the whole job situation (finally) next week. They called me last Friday (after I'd given up hope)... and Randy (the owner, main photog) was going to be out on vacation this current week, but told me he was interested, gave me a time frame, opened possibilities for part time work until they were ready for me full time. I called him back this week (oops, he was in South Carolina), and so we're going to chat sometime in the next few days about pay/starting dates/etc.

Ahhh. Finally. I'm still a little anxious about it though... not sure I want to drive 40 min (one way) for work, and wondering if they're going to be as lax about other things as they were getting back to me. I mean seriously, I started interviewing in the middle of May! As far as job description and duties, it's pretty much perfect.

So this is what I was waiting for. Hot, muggy weather. And now I wish for a/c. Something our plexer doesn't have. Le sigh. We spent most of today in our basement.

We got tickets to go down to Houston in July to visit Brenton and Cheree Salyers. She's my childhood best friend (which I haven't seen since her wedding, a little over a year ago!), and Brenton is from Missouri, which is actually where they live. Two months after they were married, they found out he had melanoma spread out through his body including brain, lungs, and lymph nodes. Through chemo and surgery, what was in his brain has shrunk, but the cancer has increased throughout the rest of his body. They're spending this whole summer down in Houston, where he's trying a new type of treatment (which I forgot the name of), which basically over-stimulates his immune system to attack the cancer. I can't imagine going through that much in your first year of marriage.. Anyway, it is long overdue for us to see them, so we decided we would do whatever it took to do just that. :)

That's pretty much everything I've got.. just don't kill any flies or PETA will breathe down your neck. I just killed two spiders this morning, eep, imagine the tirade of a bug bomb!

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?Anything that's over $50... which is pretty much every single one. :) Back in Waterloo, it was our energy bill in the wintertime... I mean, really, $240 to heat the dang apartment?

2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?Uh, romantic? The night Joel proposed? lol.. We don't do romantic very much. The last "nice" place we went out together was Red Lobster.

3. What do you really want to be doing right now?Something. I'm tired of getting put off with this whole job situation. I've already cleaned the whole house, including windows, this week. I can't even do laundry, because there's a shortage of the dryer that I ordered. Ho hum. Of course, it would be nice to be wrapped in a hug with Joel, too. :)

4. How many colleges did you attend?2.. Master of the community college, right here.

5. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?Uhm. Because I went for a walk this morning, and haven't changed out of my old t-shirt yet..?

6. What are your thoughts on gas prices?Dumb. We need to get a more fuel-efficient vehicle... a truck, cargo van, and a premium-only car doesn't really cut it for the drive down to Houston we're planning on this summer sometime.

7. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?Hm. Do I have an agenda today? No. Could I keep sleeping? Yes. Do I actually want to turn my alarm off? No, I might sleep way too late. Darn. There goes the snooze ring.

8. Last thought before going to sleep last night?I miss my sweetie.

9. Do you miss being a child?Eh. No.

10. What errand/chore do you despise?Washing windows.

11. Get up early or sleep in?Honestly, I love how I feel when I get up early. Can I do it without Joel? Rarely.

12. Have you found real love yet?You bet.

13. Favorite lunch meat?Roast beef or smoked turkey.

14. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?Usually, its Mountain Dew for Joel.

15. Beach or lake?Can't you have beaches on lakes? Or does this mean oceans?

16. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?Are you kidding? No. It should be kept sacred.

17. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?Ew. Neither.

18.What famous person would you like to have dinner with?Jack Johnson. And then we could go back to my place... KID-ding!

19. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?Hm. Let me count the times. There was the "Ooos, took the gravel corner too fast in the minivan" time, and there was the "Thanks for pulling out in front of me, Mr. Milktruck driver, on the road you can't even walk across because it's that slick from the ice" time, and then there was the, "Hey, Mom, these people are all going really slow.. it's not even slippery out here. Oh wait, icy/slushy curve bridge ahead" Trailblazer time. So 3.

20. Ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?Nope. Thank goodness.

21. Ring tone?I lost my "Office" theme ringtone when I got my Blackberry... I should get that again.

23. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?Mm. The Redwood forest?

23. Do you go to church?Church as a building, no.

24. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?Eeek. Neither. I don't do change that well.

25. How old are you?21

26. Do you have a go to person?Two of them actually... Joel and Mom.

27. Are you where you want to be in life?Sure. I've accomplished all of my goals for this time in my life.

28. Growing up, what were your favorite cartoons?Er. Um. I didn't really have any growing up.

29. What about you do you think has changed the most?I've relaxed about a lot of things... I was very uptight even just 2-3 years ago.

30. Looking back at high school, were they the best years of your life?They were pretty good. I actually liked school, had a good group of friends, finally gained some self-confidence, had a low-key easy job.. yeah they were pretty good.

31. Are there times you still feel like a kid?Sometimes.

32. Did you ever own troll dolls?Actually, no.

33. Did you have a pager?What in the world for?

34. Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?I wasn't really a hang-out type. I'm pretty sure you could just take your pick of parking lots along main street in good ol' Sioux Center, IA.

35. Were you the type of kid you would want your children to hang out with?Yup

36.Who do you think impacted your life the most?My parents...

37. Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out for you?As in stood up for? Didn't really need that. There were very few teachers that I didn't respect or like... and I think there was only one that didn't like me...

38. Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age..."?When I was your age... oh wait, I am your age.

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?I sure would. That would be wonderful right now. :)

4. Do you plan outfits?Obviously.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?Good... just finished some more juice for lunch. I also made myself a small chicken breast on the George Foreman that I had marinated in spices, ranch dressing, and olive oil since yesterday.

6. Whats the closest thing to you that's red?... a chip clip. Random.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?Eek. I haven't remembered a dream in a long time. But I think it was that one where Joel and I were uhm, ya'know in a corridor of a sky-rise hotel overlooking this huge city.

8. Did you meet anybody new today?nope.

9. What are you craving right now?nothing, actually. I'm not really hungry. Chips and salsa always sound good though.

10. Do you floss?*shame* about twice a year, three if I happen to go to the dentist.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?Ew. that would make disgusting juice.

12. Are you emotional?Mmm. Yup.

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?What? No. But I did hear from the fml.com that this 24-yr old guy actually counted the number of licks to get to the inside of a tootsie roll pop.

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?both

15. Do you like your hair?Sure. It's pretty versatile and isn't falling out anymore since I started using this natural shampoo and conditioner.

16. Do you like yourself?Yup. And we're starting to be buddies with the scale, too. Woo hooo!

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?Why not... I respect the man, and he'd probably be interesting to talk to.

18. What are you listening to right now?The sound of my dehumidifier in the basement.

19. Are your parents strict?In some ways.. I think they're about perfect in that department for me.

20. Would you go sky diving?YES!

21. Do you like cottage cheese?Mmm hmm. Love it. Every single morning.

22. Have you ever met a celebrity?Er. No. I grew up in Iowa, remember? But I did meet a really famous photographer in Madison earlier this year.

23. Do you rent movies often?Eh. That get's expensive.

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?Sparkly? No.

25. How many countries have you visited?Canada, Mexico... I'm not very well traveled.

26. Have you made a prank phone call?Actually, no. Is it fun?

27. Ever been on a train?Nope.

28. Brown or white eggs?White...?

29.Do you have a cell-phone?Love my crack-berry!

30. Do you use chap stick?All the time.

31. Do you own a gun?No.. should have bought one before the O-man raised the taxes on those.

32. Can you use chop sticks?My feeble attempts probably don't fit the word "using" very well.

33. Who are you going to be with tonight?Myself. :(

34. Are you too forgiving?Not really... quite the opposite, actually.

35. Ever been in love?:D

36. What is your best friend doing tomorrow?Working... and not around home.

Looking into the kitchen and the front door. (Proudly displaying my juicer and little glass of juice... actually unintentional.)

Still spinning...

Hallway.. three closets on the left, bathroom on first right, and our bedroom on second right... the spare bedroom is at the end of the hall.

My cute little pantry that Joel put shelves in for me..

The rest of the house really doesn't matter... our room is organized, but nothing special. Once they actually come with my washer and dyer, I'll take some of the basement so you all can see more of Joel's handiwork in the sweet shelves he made. :)

Disclaimer: I am not a registered dietician, I do not have any type of medical training, and my workouts and training are only intended for my personal recollection and your curiosity. Anything documented on this blog is my personal opinion or a learned experience. All images are subject to a personal copyright unless otherwise noted and cannot be used without permission. If you read to the end of this, congratulations.

what you should know...

I am a wife and a self-employed photographer. I love to laugh, have a somewhat quirky style of humor, and a serious sense of determination.

I am passionate abouteating.

cooking.powerlifting.CrossFitting.

I believe we're all on a journey... striving to be better and learning more every day.

Welcome to my journey.

Until I get a page dedicated on this blog, read an interview about my "fitness story" here.